Student Accomplishments, December 2017

by Lillian Matchett 12/01/2017

Conservatory pianist Albert Cano Smit won the first prize at the 2017 Walter W. Naumburg International Piano Competition. The win came with a cash award of $10,000, a commissioned work, and a New York debut concert in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall.

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Congratulations to these students on their tremendous accomplishments.

The National YoungArts Foundation included 31 Colburn School students and alumni among those honored for their outstanding work in the performing arts. Read the full story.

Conservatory pianist Albert Cano Smit won the first prize at the 2017 Walter W. Naumburg International Piano Competition. The win came with a cash award of $10,000, a commissioned work, and a New York debut concert in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall.

Conservatory violist Emma Wernig won the Cecil Aronowitz Viola Competition, hosted by the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Birmingham City University, and the British Viola Society. Her win came with a cash prize of £5,000, a record deal with Champs Hill Records, and bookings for recitals as part of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire’s Concert Series and at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall. Emma is an alumna of the Community School of Performing Arts and the Music Academy.

Conservatory musicians took home top prizes at the Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts Instrumental Competition. Tuba player Cristina Dougherty won Grand Prize, including a $6000 award for exceptional talent and musicianship. Other winners included violist Johanna Nowik, first prize for strings; cellist Jerry Xu, second prize for strings; trombonist Connor Rowe, second prize for brass, clarinetist Vitor Trindade and flute player Wei Pan, second prize tie for woodwinds; and Violinist Madeleine Valliancourt and flute player Si Eon Choi, honorable mentions.

Conservatory horn player Marty Mangrum and Music Academy violinist Qiaorong Ma were accepted into the New York String Orchestra Seminar at the Mannes College of Music.

Conservatory trumpet player Michael Harper, a current professional studies certificate student, was appointed second trumpet of the Jacksonville Symphony.

Conservatory horn player Kaylet Torrez, a current Artist Diploma student, joined the Pacific Symphony as Third/Assistant Principal Horn.

Nigel Armstrong, a 2011 Bachelor of Music alumnus, won Third Prize and Special Prize in the IsangYun International Violin Competition.

Community School student Joey Curreri was awarded the 2017 Shelly Manne New Talent Award by the LA Jazz Society.

Community School student Apsara Kasiraman was awarded Honorable Mention from Kaufman Music Center’s Luna Composition Lab in New York. Luna Composition Lab is a program intended to inspire girls and young women to compose.

Community School alumnus Billy Childs was nominated for two Grammy Awards. He was nominated for Best Jazz Instrumental Album for Rebirth and Best Improvised Jazz Solo on “Dance of Shiva” from the same album.

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